Staple machine



Oct. 31, 1939. F. R. CURTISS STAPLE MACHINE Filed July 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

J3 FRANK R. CUR 77.53.

ATTORNEY Oct. 3l, 1939. F. R. cuRTlss 2,173.391

STAPLE MACHINE Filed July 8, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANK CURT/'.

Patented Oct. 31, 193.9

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,178,391 STAPLE MACHINE Frank It. Curtiss, New Haven, Conn. Application July 8, 1938, Serial No. 218,058 18 Claims. (Cl. lill-55) This invention relates to new anduseful imguide I2 is welded, soldered or otherwise atprovements in staple-driving or applying matached to the underside of the jaw-plate I along chines and has particular although not nece'sthe left edge thereof while guide I3 is similarly sarily exclusive relation to a machine adapted secured to the upper surface of the plate Il along 5. to the applying of staples for the purpose of sethe right edge thereof. Guides I2 and I3 toward 5 curing coil springs together or to frames, securtheir outer ends are prOVided With enlargements ing rods together, securing burlap or other cover- I5 and I6 whereby shoulders I1 and I8 are formed ing to springs and rods, etc. and such outer end portions of the guides are The objects and advantages of the invention disposed against jaw-portions I9 and 20 on the 1o will become apparent from a consideration of the plates It and Il respectively. 10 following detailed description taken in connec- A cap-plate 2l is secured against the under side tion with the accompanying drawings wherein a of the portion of guide I2 beyond the forward satisfactory embodiment of the invention is edge oi plate i!v and such cap corresponds in shown. However, it is to be understood that the Shape with the jaw-DOTOH I9 0f Plate l0 and S invention is not limited to the details disclosed Secured to such end of the guide by welding 01' l5 but includes all such variations and modifications otherwise as desired. A cap-plate 22 correspOIldas fall within the spirit of the invention and the ing with jaw portion 2l! of plate Il is secured to Scope of the appended claims. the upper side of the forward end-portion of In the drawings: guide I3. It is noted that this construction pro- Fig 1 is a, plan View of the present meshing, vides portions projecting beyond the inner edges 20 certain parts being broken away, and the other of the forward portions O the guides I2 and I3 parts being shown in their normal or released So as to provide recesses 23 and 2i at the inner positions; side of the shoulders II and i8 for a purpose to Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, the staple be described. 25 feeding means being shown in section and the Also the enlargements I5 and I6 are set back 25 parts being shown in the positions occupied by v With TeSDeCt DO the inner edges Of the .law-P01- them at the end of the first step toward the aptions I9 and 20 0f plates Ill and Il as well as plying 01- Setting of a, Staple; the cap-plates 2I and 22 of such plate-portion Fig. 3 is a plan view of the complete machine providing la recess 25 in each jaw and the matebut showing the parts in the positions they oeeurial of portions I9 and 2U and of the Cap-plates so py at the end of a staplesetting or applying oper- 2i and 22 are swedged outwardly (see Fig. 9) ation; as said recesses 25 whereby the latter are oi Fig. 4 is a sectional View as along the lino 4 5 greater width or thickness than the recesses 23 of Fig. 2, the staple-feeding means being omitted; and 2li, which latter are only of the thickness oi Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view as along the guides l2 and I3- The reason for providing 35 l the line 5-5 0f Fig, J the Staple feeding means the addilOllal Width at 25 Will later appear.

being shown; A pivot 26 pivotally connects theplates IIJ and Fig. 6 is a plan view of one jaw-plate of the II and also mounted on such pivot are handlemachine, the View being 0n a reduced Scale; members 21 and 28 U-Shaped ill tIaIlSVeISe SBC- 40 Fig '7 is a View similar to Fig, 6 but of the tion as shown in Fig. 8. Handle 21 has enlarged 40 othei-,jaW-plate of the machine; upper and lower disc-like end-portions 29 and Fig, 8 is a, sectional View as along the line 8 8 30 While handle 28 has Similar pOltiOlS 3| and of Fig 1; 32, It is through these enlarged portions that Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevational View takenl as the pvot 26 eXtendS and the handles are so realong the line 9 9 of Fig, 2; lated that the portions 3| and 32 of handle 28 45 Fig 10 is a, Side elevational View 0f a, staple are al, 'the 1111161' Sides Of the pOI'tOIlS 29 and 3D after being formed or set by the machine; 0f handle 2- Fig. 11 is an edge view of the staple of Fig. 10; Plate l has a tail-like extension 33 secured to Fig. l2 is a side elevational view of a modiiied. the handle 21 at the Teal 0f the pVOt 25 as by construction of drivei` means; and rivets or the like 34. The plate II includes an 50 Fig. 13 is an end view of the modied driver. extension 35 entering into the handle 28 but Referring in detail to the drawings, the imnot secured thereto and having its edge portion proved machine includes upper and lower jaw- 36 spaced from the connecting or bight portion plates I0 and II to which are secured driverof such handle when the machine is not in use guides I2 and I3 respectively. In the drawing as shown in Fig. l. Plates I0 and II carry per- 55 forated ears 3l and 38 respectively to which are anchored the respective ends of a coil spring 39, the function of which is to maintain the plates lil and li and the parts carried thereby in their normal relation as shown in Fig. l and to return such plates to such relation upon their release following the clinching or setting of a staple as will later appear.

Disposed between the plates l and l l and held against any but sliding movement by such plates is a driver comprising a pair of plates d@ and 4|. These driver plates extend one at each side of the shank of the pivot 2S and are of such width that the shank maintains them against the inner edges of the driver-guides i2 and i3 above referred to. Toward their rear end the driver plates are interlocked as by teeth 132 so that under certain conditions they move together and the forward end of each driver plate is shaped to provide a curved innei` edge i3 and a restricted forward end-portion All. When in their normal position as in Fig. l, the forward end-portions of the driver plates are at opposite sides of a socket i115 formed between the plates ifi and Il and into which staples are fed through an opening 46 in plate lil as will appear.

One of these staples employed is shown at l? in Fig. l and it is noted that the same includes curved legs lli). The curvature of the edge-portion 53 of the driver plates is such that the forward corners GS of such edges are above the high point of the curved staple-legs t, whereby the staple while in the shape shown in Fig. i may not move outwardly between the corner-portions le of the driver plates. That is, the distance between the corner-portions [lll is less than the greatest diameter of the staple. The purpose of this arrangement will later be fully set forth.

A stud or rivet 5G attaches to the handle 2B the ends of links 5l and 52 and a stud 53 pivotally attaches said links to the rear end-portion of the driver-plate di. As here shown, link 5l is somewhat longer than link 52 and at its free end carries a stud 54 supporting a cam roller 55 which may be on the stud above a spacer 56. Roller 55 is against a cam-like edge 5l of the handle 2l and such cam-like edge at its rear end terminates in a curved shoulder '53. A coil spring 59 has one end secured to the link fil and has its other end anchored to the outer end-portion of handle 2l at GG.

Obviously the tendency of this spring is to keep the links 5l and 52 as well as the driver-plates 4B and il in the positions in which such parts are shown in Fig. 1 since the spring is drawing rearwardly on the link 5l yieldingly maintaining the roller 5'5 against the curved shoulder 58. At the forward end of the inclined edge or cam surface 51 handle 2? is cut away providing a recess Si of such width that the roller 55 may enter it at certain times as will appear.

The means for feeding staples into the socket fili through the opening i6 in plate if: comprises a transversely U-shaped housing 62 provided at its lower end with laterally extending ears t3 secured to plate l@ as by rivets 6d. This housing may be of any desired length and mounted within the same is a staple guide-bar 65 transversely of substantially the shape of the staple il and inclucling curved side walls @l to be embraced by the curved legs of staples placed on the bar over the upper end thereof. The rear wall of the guide-bar 55S is secured to the rear wall of housing G2 as by screws or the like 33, spacers 59 being interposed.

A follower is provided shaped to slide on the bar SS when passed over the upper end thereof and such follower includes perforated ears Ti slideable along a follower guide-rod 'l2 about which is disposed a coil spring 13 pressing at one end against ears lll whereby the spring is constantly urging the follower 70 along the guidebar 66 in the direction of plate lll. The upper end of rod 'i2 may be anchored in any desired manner and as here shown the guide-bar G6 is provided with an extension li having an opening l5 therein through which a hook-end 76 of the rod 'l2 passes.

The action of the spring 73 is such as to maintain the end 'I6 of the rod against the upper edge of the opening 'E5 but it will be clear that by pressing the rod downwardly or in the direction of plate I0 the hook-end 'F6 may be released and withdrawn from the opening 'l5 so that the rod l2 with its spring 'F3 and the follower l' may be removed from the guide-bar. Thereafter additional staples may be placed on the guide-bar over the upper end thereof.

Assuming that the guide-bar 66 has been loaded with staples, the follower 70 will act to cause the innermost staple on the bar to pass through the opening 4G into the socket 45 wherein the staple will be positioned as is the staple lll' in Fig. l. Now the operator squeezes the handles 27 and 23 thereby causing the link 5l to move from the position of Fig. l to that of Fig. 2, the roller 55 riding on the inclined edge 5l of the handle 2l. As the link is thus moved it exerts a forward thrust on the driver-plate 4l and such driver being keyed to the driver-plate ILS by the teeth 42, both driver-plates move forwardly from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2.

There it will be noted that the cam roller 55 is ready to enter the recess 6l and that the forward end-portions of the driver plates i0 and 4i are occupying the recesses 23 and 24 above referred to, the extreme forward edges lll of the respective drivers being against the shoulders Il and I8 respectively of the head-like portions l5 and I6 of the driver-guides l2 and I3. The staple 41 has now been moved forwardly into a position between the clinching jaws which jaws for the purpose of further description are generally designated 'H and 'E8 and comprise essentially the portions I9 and 28 of plates lil and Il, the capplates 2| and 22 and the portions of the guides l2 and I3 located between such cap-plates and the plate-portions I9 and 20.

The staple in Fig. 2 is designated #la and it is noted that the ends of the legs of the staples are substantially concealed in recesses 25 as the staple projects only slightly beyond such recesses as at T9. However the curved edges 43 of the driver plates are embracing the legs of the staples should the driver plates now be with drawn toward their normal position they will carry the staple with them and return it to the position of Fig. l.

This is a decided advantage since when the driver plates are in their forward positions they block the entrance of a second staple into the socket 45. Should they leave the staple lla in the position of Fig. 2 and return to their normal position, a second staple could enter the socket and then on the driver plates being again moved forward the machine would become jammed by the two staples being locked together.

When the machine parts are positioned as in Fig. 2 it is noted that the jaws i7 and 78 have not moved from their normal positions and are spaced apart and the machine may be manipulated to dispose said jaws and thus the staple Wa about any object to be stapled. Thereafter the operator continues the pressure tending to move the handles 2l and 2S toward onev another and at such time the cam roller 55 moves outwardly in the recess permitting the handles to be 'squeezed toward one another as into the position of Fig. 3. At this time handle 28 has engaged the portion 35 of plate il and so such plate as well as the plate it is rocked about the pivot 26 whereby the jaws 'El and i8 move toward one another.

The movement of the cam roller in'to the cam slot Si also permits the drivers @lll and il to rock about the pivot 25 so that the rear portions of the drivers move away from one another while the front portions thereof move toward one another. Such front driver-plate portions being engaged with the staple really comprise parts of the jaws during the clinching operation. In this connection it is noted that when the driverplates are in their forward positions as in Figs. 2 and 3 their forward end-portions are in engagement with correspondingly-shaped portions of the guides l2 and i3 and thus the forward portions of the driver-plates are backed up and strengthened during clinching of the staple.

During the initial manipulation of the handles as from the position of Fig. l to that of Fig. 2 the jaws are not moved relatively7 and thus spring 39 is not tensioned. This initial movement does tension the spring 59 somewhat and during the final movement as the jaws are rocked toward one another to clinch a staple, spring 35 is tensioned and spring 59 is further tensioned. As initially there is no tensioning of the spring 39 and but slight tensioning of the spring 59 the machine is easily operated.

After the clinching operation on release of the handles spring 39 pulls the jaws apart as to the positions of Figs. 1 and 2 and the spring 59 draws the links 5l and 52 back to their normal position and they in turn return roller 55 to its normal position and draw the driver-plates llt and il to their normal positions. The clinched staple will pass between the open jaws ll and 'f8 and thus following the clinching operation the drivers d@ and lil return empty to their normal positions and a second staple may pass olf the guide bar into the socket d5.

The present machine includes a means whereby when the handles are operated to the positions of Fig. 2 they together with the driverplates are locked against return movement until after final operation of the handles togive the jaws 'H and i8 their clinching movement. This construction is provided to supplement the curved forward `ends of the drivers in preventing a second staple entering the socket until after the first staple to enter the same is clinched and out of the machine. Additionally as the described means will hold the parts in the positions of Fig. 2 it is not necessary after a staple has been moved into position between the jaws that the operator carefully grip the handles in manipulating the machine to locate such staple about the wires or the like around which it is to be clinched.

To provide this locking feature notches 8l and 82 are formed in the edge portion 3l of the handle 28. Between such notches is a relatively short tooth 83 and below such notches the part 3l has its edge cut away providing a surface 84 which may be slightly inclined but which in any the matter of event functions as a cam to shift a part outwardly as will later appear. Mounted on the handle 2l by means of a pin 85 is a pawl 8E having a toe-portion 81 to enter the notches 3l and 82 and having a heel portion 88 to engage the cam surface Sil as will appear. A flat balancing spring 89 has one end anchored at 90 to the handle 2l and the other end of such spring connects with the heel-portion 88 of the pawl S6.

Normally the toel 8l of the pawl is in the notch 8l. As the handles are initially squeezed toward one another, part 3i moves about the pivot 25 and the tooth 83 forces the pawl 8% to rock slightly about the pivot as such tooth passes under the toe of the pawl. However, the spring B9 rocks the pawl back as soon as tooth 83 passes under it so that the toe 8l immediately moves into the notch 82. The parts are then in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 and the pawl being carried by the handle 2l while the notches are in the handle 28, the spring 59 may not return such parts to their normal positions and they are thus locked with the driver plates di! and 4l holding the staple @la between the jaws 'El and 18.

On continued movement of the handles to have the jaws clinch a staple the toe 81 of the pawl rides up onto the surface 9| of portion 3l of the handle 28 and the pawl is rocked into the position of Fig. 3 where the tendency of the spring 89 is to maintain its toe away from the edge of part 3l and to maintain the heel 88 of the pawl against the surface 84, it being understood that when the toe of the pawl moved onto the surface el the movement of the heel-portion of the pawl was such as to move the spring across a dead center. On release of the handles after a clinching operation, cam surface Sli acting on the heel 88 of the pawl tends to rock the latter in the opposite direction or in a direction to hav-e its toe enter one of the notches 8| or 32. However, the timed relation is such that the pawl is not shifted to have its toe-portion enter notch 82 but is shifted at the correct time to have its toe-portion enter notch 8l.

During the clinching operation the widened recesses 25 permit of the staple being bent to have .its end-portions overlap laterally as do the endportions 92 and S3 of the staple 9d of Figs. l0 and 11. In fact the recess 25 is widened in order to provide construction by means of which the staple may be clinched with its end-portions in lateral overlapping relation. In connection with the time of clinching of the staples, attention is directed to the fact that the driver-plate 4Q includes a relatively wide forward end-portion 95 which in movement of the parts from the positions of Fig. 2 to the positions of Fig. 3 quickly passes under .the center of the staple so that as the clinching pressure is applied to the staple leg, the staple crown may not collapse outwardly or in a direction between the forward ends of the drivers.

Attention is directed to the fact that the interlocking teeth i2 connecting the driver plates im and #ll are curved. The center of curvature of these teeth, when the driver plates are in their forward positions as in Figs. 2 and 3, is the pivot 26. The teeth being curved as indicated the plates @t and #il may rock about the pivot 26 as between the positions of Figs. 2 and 3 without any tendency of the teeth to bind and yet the teeth interlock snugly or in such manner that there is no longitudinal play between the plates.

In the use of the machine of the invention assuming that the guide-bar 66 has been loaded with staples, the lowermost staple will have passed through the opening 4,5 into the socket 45. In this position the staple is located between the forward end portions of the driver plates 4i) and 4| as shown best in Fig. l. In such figure it will be noted that the parts are all in their normal positions or in their positions of rest and the roller 54 is against the edge 58, the teeth 42 are fully in mesh, the forward ends of the driver plates 46 and 4i are spaced apart. Further the pawl 86 has its tooth 8l in the notch 8l in the edge of the portion Si of the handle 28.

Now to apply a staple the operator squeezes the handles 2 and 2S toward one another and in the initial movement of such handles the handle 28 moves about the pivot 26 and the roller 56 moves along the edge l toward the recess or notch Sl. This movement of the roller is against the tendency of the spring 59 and the arm 5l being pivoted to the driver plate il at 53 it will be clear that the driver plates will be moved forwardly during such initial movement of the handles relatively. Both driver plates will be moved forwardly since the teeth ft2 are meshed.

As the driver plates are thus moved forwardly they carry with them the staple which has entered the socket 135 as above set forth. In this way the staple is moved from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2. During such forward movement of the staple the jaws of the machine have not been moved toward one another as it will be noted in Fig. l that there is a space between the enlarged portion 3S of lever arm 35 and the inner surface of the transversely U-shaped handle 28. In Fig. 2 it will be noted that handle 28 has moved to a position where its inner surface portion is in engagement with the said enlarged lever-arm portion 3S.

In each of Figs. l and 2 it will be noted that the spring 39 connecting jaw plate iii with jaw plate l l has not been tensioned. Further in Fig. 2 the roller Sli is about to enter the recess GI to permit the handle 28 to move further toward the handle 2l and during such movement engage the lever-arm portion .'lt and (the corresponding portion 33 of plate lll being riveted to handle 2l at 34 whereby said plate is fixed to the handle) move the jaws into clinching relation. Thus in the final movement of the handles toward one another the parts are shifted from the positions of Fig. 2 to those of Fig. 3 where it will be noted that the staple is clinched.

With the parts positioned as in Fig. 2 the pawl 85 has its toe portion in the notch 82 and in engagement with the tooth S3. Therefore should the handles be released while the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 the pawl will prevent return movements of the parts to their positions of rest. However, in Fig. 3 where the parts have gone the full distance of their movements the pawl has been rocked to a released position by the outer shoulder of notch 82 and so the parts may without resistance from the pawl return to their positions of rest. On release of the handles when the parts are in the positions of Fig. 3 the springs 39 and 59 return the parts to their normal positions.

Attention is directed to the fact that the widened shoulder portion 95 of the driver plate 4U moves quickly under the center of the crown of the staple as the clinchng jaws are moved into clinching relation whereby to prevent such crown bowing into any space between such driver plates. The interlocking teeth 42 on the plates permit of rocking movement of the plates relative to one another without the plates becoming disengaged from one another.

During actual clinching of the staple the driver plates are in their forward positions and are held in such positions and occupy most of the space in the recesses 23 and 24. The drivers actually comprise parts of the clinching means Since they are kept in engagement with the legs of the staple as the latter is clinched. It is noted that the forward portions of such driver plates are curved in their inner edges at 43 whereby to embrace the legs of a staple. With this arrangement when the driver moves a staple from the socket 45 and thereafter the staple is not driven but the handles are released, the driver plates will draw such staple back into the socket as the springs move the parts to their normal positions. On release of the handles after the clinching of a staple as the parts move toward their normal positions the part 88 of the pawl is engaged and the pawl rocked back to position to have its toe enter the notch Bi, this being its normal position. When the driver plates return to their normal positions, a staple having been driven, a second staple may enter the socket 45 through the opening or entrance 46. Thereafter the machine is ready for further use.

In Figs. l2 and 13 the driver plates 40a and 4| a are provided with the curved inner surfaces 43a. Obviously plates 49a and 4| a may be substituted for the plates 46 and 4I and the portions 43a are for the same purpose as the portions 43 of the driver plates first described. The plates of the modification include extensions 96 and 9'1 each of about one-half the thickness of the bodies of the plates and arranged extending toward one another in slightly overlapping relation when in positions of rest.

When a staple is received by the plates 40a and 4 io the crown of the staple will be completely supported or supported for its entire length since its central portion will be on the extensions 96 and 91. In the clinching operation the staple crown will thus be prevented from buckling between the driver plates. The driver plate construction of Figs. 12 and 13 is also of importance because it provides a structure wherein during the clinhing operation portions of the staple at oppositesides of the center of the crown are engaged to the same extent and in the same manner. Therefore, there will be the same friction on each portion of the staple and as it is clinched both its portions will slide at the same rate and the staple will be formed into a more nearly perfect circle.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them apply a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, a driver in the socket, means associated with the first means and operable independent of any movement of said jaws to shift said driver forwardly and move a staple from the socket to the jaws, and said driver including means for returning a staple to said socket from the direction of the jaws on release of the second mentioned means prior to the closing of said jaws to apply the staple.

2. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to clinch a staple,

said head including a staple receiving socket, a driver in the socket, means associated with the first means and operable independent of any movement of said jaws to shift said driver forwardly and move a staple from the socket to the jaws, and said driver including portions overlying. portions of a staple between said jaws whereby to withdraw into said socket any staple moved therefrom toward the jaws but against which the jaws have not been closed.

3. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, means for feeding curved leg staples to said socket, a driver in the socket and comprising a pair of plates, means operable to move said driverforwardly to have it move a staple from said socket to said jaws, said driver having its plates arranged one at each side of said socket, and said plates including curved portions engaging the staple legs whereby when movement of said driver forwardly is not followed by movement of the jaws to clinch a staple the driver on its return movement will return such stapleto the socket.

4. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving. socket, means for feeding staples to said socket, a driver in the socket, means operable to move said driver forwardly to have it move a staple from said socket to said jaws and while in a forward position block the entrance of a second staple into said socket, and means on said machine and preventing return movement of the driver from a forward position until after said jaws have been given a staple clinching movement.

5. In a staple applying machine, a pair of pivotally connected jaws including portions defining a staple receiving socket, a driver in said socket and operable to move a staple therefrom into a position to be clinched by said jaws, a pair of pivotally mounted levers of which one is rigidly connected with one of said jaws, means connecting the other lever with said driver whereby on initial movement of said levers toward one another the driver is shifted to move a staple from the socket into a position to be clinched by said jaws, and said other jaw including a portion arranged to be engaged by said other lever on movement thereof following such initial movement whereby to cause said jaws to swing on their pivotal mounting and clinch the staple.

6. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them apply a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket,`a driver in the socket and comprising a pair of plates, means associated with the first means and operable independent of any movement of said jaws to shift said driver forwardly and move a staple from the socket to the jaws, means maintaining said driver in its forward position forming parts of said jaws during a staple applying operation, and each of said ljaws having a recess snugly receiving the forward portions of the driver when the latter is in its forward position whereby to back up and strengthen the forward portions of the driver during a staple clinching operation.

'7. In a staple applying machine, front and back jaw-plates, a pivot connecting said plates, a guide member secured against the back of said front plate adjacent an edge thereof and extending in the direction of the length thereof, a guide member secured to the front of the back plate adjacent the edge thereof remote from said rst member, each of said plates of a width overlying the member on the other plate whereby to form a socket, drivers in said socket arranged one at each side of said pivot and bearing against the same and attheir outer edges against the respective members, means for moving said drivers to cause them to shift a staple from said socket into position to be clinched by relative pivotal movement of said jaw plates, and means for causing such relative pivotal movement of the jaw plates.

8. In a staple applying machine, a pair of means dening a head and a pair of jaws, a pivot connecting said pair of means, other means operable to rock said pair of means relatively on said pivot to move said jaws toward one another to clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, a driver in said socket and comprising a pair of plates passing one at each side of said pivot and connected rearwardly of said pivot, means associated with said other means and connected with one of said driverplates and operable independently of any relative movement of said pair of means to shift said plates forwardly to have them move a staple from said socket to said jaws, and the connection between the rear portions of said plates comprising interlocking teeth whereby as said pair of means are moved relatively about said pivot said plates may also rock about the pivot to have their forward `portions move toward one another.

9. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, means for feeding staples to said socket, a driver in the socket and comprising a pair of plates, means operable to move said driver forwardly to have it move a staple from said socket to said jaws, said driver,v plates when in their forward positions forming portions of and movable with said jaws during a clinching operation, and one of said plates including a relatively wide front end-portion engaging the connecting portion of a staple between said jaws and preventing buckling of such connecting portion rearwardly into said socket during clinching of the staple.

10. InV a staple applying machine, a pair of means defining a head and a pair of jaws, a pivot connecting said pair of means, other means operable to rock said pair of means relatively on said pivot to move said jaws toward one another to clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, a driver in said socket and operable to move a staple therefrom to said jaws, means whereby said other means are operable to rock said pair of means about said pivot to have said jaws clinch a staple, and a spring connected with each of said pair of means and operable to return them to their normal relation on release of said other means following a staple clinching operation.

l1. In a staple applying machine, a pair of means defining a head and a pair of jaws, a pivot connecting said pair of means, other means operable to rock said pair of means relatively on said pivot to move said jaws toward one another to clinch a staple, said head including a staple "receiving socket, a driver in said socket and operable to move a staple therefrom to said jaws, means whereby said other means are operable to rock said pair of means about said pivot to have said jaws clinch a staple, and a spring connected with said driver and said other means and operable to return the driver and other means to their normal positions of rest on release of the other means following a staple clinching operation.

l2. In a staple applying machine, means de- Iining a staple receiving socket and a pair of jaws, a driver for moving a staple from said socket to said jaws, a pair of levers operable to move said jaws into clinching relation, one of said levers having an edge portion followed by a recess, a link pivoted to the other of said levers and having a roller engaging said edge portion, means pivoting said link to said driver, and means providing for a lost motion connection between the levers and jaws whereby on initial pressure on the handles there is no movement of said jaws while said roller moves said edge portion and the links shift the driver to move a staple to the jaws and on further movement of the levers said roller moves into said recess permitting said levers to move further toward one another to operate the jaws and clinch the staple.

13. In a staple applying machine, means defining a staple receiving socket and a pair of jaws, a driver for moving a staple from said socket to said jaws, a pair of levers operable to move said jaws into clinching relation, a link pivoted to one of said levers and to said driver and bearing against the other lever, said other lever having a recess therein, and means providing a lost motion connection between the jaws and levers whereby on initial movement of the latter there is no movement of the jaws but as the link moves toward said recess said driver is operated to shift a staple to the jaws and thereafter on further movement of the levers the link enters the recess and the levers may move further toward one another to operate the jaws to clinch a staple.

14. In a staple applying machine, a pair of pivotally connected members operable toward one another to clinch a staple, a driver for moving staples into position for clinching by said members, a pair of levers for operating said members to have them clinch a staple, means rigidly connecting one of said levers with one of said members, said other lever having limited free movement relative to the other of said members, and means connecting said other lever with said driver whereby during such limited free movement of said other lever it operates said driver to move a staple into position to be clinched by said members.

15. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have then clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, means for feeding staples to said socket, a driver in the socket and operable to move a staple from the socket to said jaws, and pawl and ratchet means on said machine and preventing return movement of said driver from a forward position until after said jaws have been given a staple clinching movement.

16. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, means for feeding staples to said socket, a driver in the socket, means operable to move said driver forwardly to have it move a staple from said socket to said jaws, and means on said machine and operable to maintain the parts in position retaining said driver in a forward position maintaining the staple between the jaws until after said jaws have been given a clinching movement.

17 In a staple applying machine, a head, staple setting means beyond the head, said head including a staple receiving socket, a driver in the socket, means to shift said driver and have it move a staple from the socket to said setting means, and said driver including means for returning a staple to said socket from the direction of said setting means on release of the rst mentioned means prior to the setting of the staple.

18. In a staple applying machine, a head, a pair of jaws beyond the head, means for moving said jaws toward one another to have them clinch a staple, said head including a staple receiving socket, means for feeding staples to said socket, a driver in the socket and comprising a pair of plates, means operable to move said driver forwardly to have it move a staple from the socket to said jaws, said driver plates when in their forward positions forming portions of and movable with said jaws during a clinching operation, and said plates including overlapping extensions engaging the connecting portion of a staple between said jaws and preventing buckling of such portion rearwardly into the socket during clinching of the staple.

FRANK R. CURTISS. 

